The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal honors Patrick Watson, Christian McBride, KOKOROKO, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Najib Fenaoui

For Immediate Release:

June 9, 2026

THE 2026 FESTIVAL AWARDS:

THE FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE JAZZ DE MONTRÉAL HONORS PATRICK WATSON, CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE, KOKOROKO, CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT, AND NAJIB FENAOUI

The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (FIJM), presented by TD Bank Group in collaboration with Rio Tinto, is recognizing the exceptional contributions to music made by Patrick Watson, Christian McBride, KOKOROKO, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Najib Fenaoui this year. These honorees will be presented with the prestigious Montréal Jazz Festival Spirit, Miles Davis, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Ella Fitzgerald, and Oliver Jones Awards, respectively, during the Festival’s 46th edition.

MONTREAL JAZZ FESTIVAL SPIRIT AWARD: PATRICK WATSON

Patrick Watson

LES PERFORMANCES TD

Friday, July 3, 2026, 9:30 p.m.

TD Stage

Free!

Patrick Watson is the 14th recipient of the Montreal Jazz Festival Spirit Award. This award recognizes the quality and innovation of an artist’s work, as well as their decisive influence on international popular music as a whole. One of the most original and influential voices in contemporary music, Patrick Watson has spent over twenty years developing a unique artistic universe where song, orchestral music, indie pop, and sound experimentation converge. Driven by refined arrangements and a resolutely innovative approach to creation, his work has helped push the boundaries of popular music. His musical signature, both poetic and instantly recognizable, has inspired numerous artists here and abroad. By building a unique artistic language, he has left a lasting mark on the international music scene while remaining deeply rooted in Montreal’s creative scene. As the recipient of the Montréal Jazz Festival Spirit Award, Patrick Watson succeeds George Benson (2023), Questlove (2022), Joni Mitchell (2019), Ry Cooder (2018), Brian Wilson (2016), Elvis Costello (2014), James Taylor (2012), Robert Plant (2011), Smokey Robinson (2010), Stevie Wonder (2009), Leonard Cohen (2008), Bob Dylan (2007), and Paul Simon (2006).

MILES DAVIS AWARD: CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE

Christian McBride & Julian Lage

LES GRANDS CONCERTS RIO TINTO, in collaboration with The Beat 92.5

Saturday, July 4, 2026, 9:00 p.m.

Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts

Christian McBride is the 31st recipient of the Miles Davis Award. The award was established in 1994, on the Festival’s 15th anniversary, to honor an internationally renowned jazz artist, their body of work, and their contribution to the evolution of the genre. A bassist, double bassist, and composer, Christian McBride has carved out an extraordinary career, establishing himself as one of the most prominent musicians of his generation. Over the past three decades, he has made remarkable strides as a dynamic studio musician and artist, a prolific composer, arranger, and producer, a prominent cultural advocate, and a dedicated educator and mentor. Previous recipients of this award include Thundercat (2025), Marcus Miller (2024), Avishai Cohen (2023), Robert Glasper (2022), Joshua Redman (2019), Béla Fleck and the Flecktones (2018), Jack DeJohnette (2017), Kenny Barron (2016), Al Di Meola (2015), Terence Blanchard (2014), Charles Lloyd (2013), Ron Carter (2012), Stanley Clarke (2011), Sonny Rollins (2010), Ornette Coleman (2009), McCoy Tyner (2008), Mike Stern (2007), Brad Mehldau (2006), Dave Holland (2005), Keith Jarrett (2004), Joe Zawinul (2003), Chick Corea (2002), Michael Brecker (2001), Charlie Haden (2000), Cassandra Wilson (1999), John Scofield (1998), Herbie Hancock (1997), Wayne Shorter (1996), Pat Metheny (1995), and John McLaughlin (1994).

ANTÔNIO CARLOS JOBIM AWARD: KOKOROKO

KOKOROKO

LES PERFORMANCES TD

Friday, June 26, 2026, 9:30 PM

TD Stage

Free!

The band KOKOROKO will receive the 21st Antônio Carlos Jobim Award. Created to mark the Festival’s twenty-fifth anniversary in 2004, this award honors an artist who has distinguished themselves in the field of global music, whose cultural fusions have undeniably influenced the history of jazz. Since its founding in 2014, the London-based collective has drawn on Afrobeat, highlife, and jazz to forge a distinctive musical language, rooted in tradition yet resolutely forward-looking. Through its innovative approach and openness to a multitude of influences—from jazz to bossa nova, soul, funk, and electronic music—the group has helped broaden the horizons of contemporary jazz while reaching a vast international audience. As the recipient of the Antônio Carlos Jobim Award, KOKOROKO follows in the footsteps of Natalia Lafourcade (2025), Vieux Farka Touré (2024), Marisa Monte (2023), Bebel Gilberto (2022), Omara Portuondo (2019), Zakir Hussain (2018), Buika (2017), Lila Downs (2016), King Sunny Ade (2015), Paco de Lucía (2014), Amadou & Mariam (2013), Emir Kusturica (2012), Youssou N’Dour (2011), Richard Bona (2010), Toots & The Maytals (2009), Gilberto Gil (2008), Angélique Kidjo (2007), Salif Keita (2006), Khaled (2005), and Ibrahim Ferrer (2004).

ELLA FITZGERALD AWARD: CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT

Cécile McLorin Salvant

LES GRANDS CONCERTS RIO TINTO, in collaboration with The Beat 92.5

Friday, June 26, 2026, 9:00 p.m.

Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts

Cécile McLorin Salvant is the 26th recipient of the Ella Fitzgerald Award. On the occasion of its 20th anniversary in 1999, the Festival created this award to honor a jazz singer of remarkable talent who has had a major impact and influence on the international scene. Praised for her remarkable voice, musical intelligence, and unparalleled interpretive skills, Cécile McLorin Salvant has established herself as one of the great singers of her generation. Through a deeply original approach, she weaves connections between jazz, blues, vaudeville, folk traditions, and Baroque music, while breathing new life into forgotten repertoires. She constantly pushes the boundaries of the genre through bold creativity and a unique artistic vision. Previous recipients of this award include Samara Joy (2025), Laufey (2024), Stacey Kent (2023), China Forbes (2022), Melody Gardot (2019), Ben Harper (2018), Lizz Wright (2017), Gregory Porter (2016), Erykah Badu (2015), Diana Ross (2014), Holly Cole (2013), Liza Minnelli (2012), Sade (2011), The Manhattan Transfer (2010), John Pizzarelli (2009), Aretha Franklin (2008), Harry Connick, Jr. (2007), Etta James (2006), Al Jarreau (2005), Tony Bennett (2004), Bobby McFerrin (2003), Dianne Reeves (2002), Diana Krall (2001), Dee Dee Bridgewater (2000), and Diane Schuur (1999).

OLIVER-JONES AWARD: NAJIB FENAOUI

NAJIB and the Alter Egos

ENTRÉE LIBRE TD

Saturday, July 4, 2026, 6 p.m.

Le Studio TD

Free!

This award was created in honour of Oliver Jones, a legendary figure in Montreal jazz who left an indelible mark on the Festival’s history and who today stands as a role model for Montreal’s Afro-descendant communities and a source of inspiration for all cultural communities in Canada. This connection and history are why the Oliver Jones Award is intended for young musicians at the university level who identify as members of visible minorities or Indigenous communities. Najib Fenaoui, a rising star on the Montreal jazz scene, is the sixth recipient. The young singer stands out for his remarkable sense of improvisation and his deeply personal approach to vocal artistry. Since his debut in 2020 on the city’s stages, he has developed a rich musical language, nourished as much by the great traditions of jazz as by R&B, soul, and gospel. Inspired by legendary figures such as Ella Fitzgerald, Al Jarreau, and Bobby McFerrin, he demonstrates a musicality, phrasing, and spontaneity that attest to a promising talent. He succeeds Duncan Hunter Neale (2025), Alex Ambroise (2024), Édelène Fitzgerald (2023), Christina Beaudry-Cárdenas (2022), and Jacob Do (2019).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank the Festival's presenter, TD Bank Group and the co-presenter, Rio Tinto for their support. Thank you also to Rogers, Loto-Québec, Molson, Uber Eats, the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), Lavazza and Le Groupe Maurice.

Moreover, the Festival would like to acknowledge the continuous support from: the Government of Canada — Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Canadian Heritage, and the Fondation Musicaction; the Gouvernement du Québec — the Ministère du Tourisme, the Secrétariat à la région métropolitaine and the SODEC, as well as the City of Montréal, Tourisme Montréal and Montréal Centre-Ville.

Finally, thank you to our media partners: Radio-Canada / CBC, La Presse and Montreal Gazette.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE JAZZ DE MONTRÉAL

Recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest jazz festival on the planet, the Festival has been synonymous with musical passion and memorable moments for over 40 years. It's where living legends rub shoulders with the finest up-and-coming artists, and jazz explodes at the crossroads of genres and influences. Located in the heart of downtown Montreal, closed to traffic and opened until midnight, the Festival site becomes the meeting place for jazz lovers worldwide for ten days. Together, they enjoy more than 350 shows, two-thirds of which are free and open-air, presented on the Place des Festivals, which has been specially redesigned and set up for the event. With its larger-than-life communion, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal reflects Montreal's nightlife through its movement, its intensity and, of course, its community.

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The 46th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will take place from June 25 to July 4, 2026 in the Quartier des Spectacles.

To download photos and bios click here

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Source and media requests: Le Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
Brigitte Beaudoin-Savoie

Publicist

L'Équipe Spectra

Media requests: Roy & Turner Communications

Chloé Rossi